Pulaski Park in the east end of town, sits right along Rte 6 between Pulaski and Prospect Sts. in Ward 1. Nothing ever takes place here, no events and I guess no reason to make it look attractive but everyone who travels along Rte 6 gets a good look at it. Very little color except at the east point.Recently while coming home, I noticed a park bench towards the back of the park and I began to wonder why would you have a bench that is blocked by high shrubbery. I have seen people sitting there who would not want to be seen but maybe that is a good place to hide. It looks like there have been attempts to make it more attractive in previous years but this year it seems to be rather bedraggled. Of course no baseball games could be held here.
This leads me to the question of who plans our landscaping in our parks and sees that they are kept up. We do have a horticulturist who even lives in this ward. Maybe some of the plants at the green house could have been placed here instead of dying from neglect.
10 comments:
Lois, you are so right. Years ago, the park was used by teenagers, visiting, before the sixties. But it has not been taken care of, just like the baskets hanging from the posts downtown. It would be better, to just have grass to cut, and no baskets, cause that hortilcutrist doesn't do a very good job. Amen
The flowers in the baskets downtown are presently very pretty. Perhaps an agreeable solution would be to have a professional arrange flower gardens in the parks and along streets and than have volunteer groups be responsible for the maintenance (meaning weeding and watering). These groups could be a husband/wife, could be an organization who divides up their membership, youth groups; the list is as wide as the population of Peru.
The horticulturist that you are referring to is a city employee who should be occupied with the functions of being a multi-tasking city employee. In other words "where needed".
I also appreciate landscaping and think maybe our local greenhouses should be approached to see if they would be interested in providing this service for a nominal fee and/or working out an advertising program based upon what they do. Upon completion of the park they would be retained for advise and updating and volunteers and volunteer groups would assume responsibility. It would be a win win situation.....city beautiful and probable new customers for the greenhouse.
It would be great to have contests etc. age groups vs. age groups, geographic areas of town against other areas of town, schools vs. schools, club vs. club etc. The ideas are endless.
I picked this particular park because it has such a high visibility to all who travel along the U.S. Rte 6. I realize it is too small to embrace much activity but what a wonderful location to locate a visual landscape, an oasis on the seas of concrete and buildings that surround it. Perhaps in increase in the number of low level colorful plants, many of a perennial type. It is still a nice resting spot for walkers and bicyclists. It is one of a few parks that does not have a sculpture or some type of art to provide a focal point.
Great ideas Lois and Art but why should we approach green houses when we have one of our own? Not only do we have a green house but we also have a horticulturist. Why then are things being neglected and why are we buying plants and shrubs when we have many dying by our own green house? Doesn't make sense to me and to a lot of Peru citizens who see their tax dollars not being utilized properly.
anon:11:12, thats what I have been saying, hes not doing the job. Why have a greenhouse, but buy all the plants? Doesn't make any sense.
I for one don't think a small community of under 10,000 people needs a horticulturist. And, out sourcing is the key phrase. Taking care of your city thru beautification goes hand in hand with pride in city, cooperation of those affected retail establishments and volunteerism.
Take a look at Chicago....it is alive with color and pride. Ottawa is another example of what can be done to beautify a city. Now Chicago may have a horticulturist but I am certain that Ottawa does not. Peru needs their citizens to become involved. IVCC can be a great tool in assisting us. I am sure there is a master gardener program and those individuals have to complete so much "volunteer" time. Peru, as a city, just has not looked around to find those avenues that do not require a hefty pay check along with retirement programs.
When times were good...the money flowed like water. But like all good things they sometime come to an end. Now we have to change course and find those roads. Some people will get hurt in this change. Budgets are made but adjusted throughout the life of the budget.
Before you plant flowers, you should clean up the curbs and gutters. Weeds 2 feet high. People don't take care of anything anymore. Catch basins are full of trash. And we need a Horticulturst?? Please!
I believe all city employees are multi-task trained. The aimed at horticulturist does alot more than water plants. If you out source his job, why not outsource all other jobs! Its a real discussion in many government sectors. Outsource may be the way to save tax dollars. Grass cutting, hole digging, water main repairs, streets, snow plowing.
You maybe on the right course. (1) Horticulturist ($45,000 I believe plus retirement/medical benefits) position can be the first step towards fiscal mgmt. (2) We should be losing our summer help soon 41 employees times whatever is another step. (3) Reduce council meetings to 1 time per month with more work being done in committee meetings. (4) Encourage volunteerism - this encourages citizens to work together to achieve goals not having them sit back and expect the city tax dollars to pay for everything.
All of the above is just surface "stuff". But it needs to start somewhere as we are not moving on towards a sound fiscal goal. We are floundering and even going deeper.
Bottom line all cost saving is good. Now maybe on an individual basis not seem like much but it is when you add up the total.
The major cost is payroll and the costs associated with payroll. We need a city manager not a Troop leader!
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